The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-10-15

| year, ana now, AT forty, The very last thing
had come, and the old home was TO go.
No wonder, on that early winter morn
ing Elizabeth Harcourt was in despair
She had had so much to bear. From the
ignht that Jack Rainsford left her in
anger she had never really been happy
again. That hot temper her mother had
warned her against-ah it had been cooled
since then.
No one who saw her bending quietly ovei
the sick bed in the poorest cottage, would
guess that beneath that calm face there had
ever been anything but peace.
Now she lay with wide open eyes, think
ing of the past, and in her ears were ring
ing old Nurse BlackitPs words of her;
'She viii take an awful site CT soberin'."
just then there came knock at the door
and Elspeth's voice. saying
'Miss Elizabeth, there is strange gen
tleman down stairs who wishes TO see you
for few minutes He looks as if he was
from Lond on
The lawyer from Londonl Miss Har-
courts heart gave quick throb as she
arose and mechanically glanced at the little
narrow glass between the windows. There
was red spot burning on each cheek, and
the brown hair had lost its smooth, satin
appearance; but she did not notice that to-
day, but passed quickly down to the cool,
dark room below,
The stranger rose and bowed as she en-
tered, tall man with gray hair and a
swarthy skin.
'Your letter come this morning." began
Miss Elizabeth, nervously. 81 am afraid
the house will have to go for the mort
gage"
my letter." said the stranger. 81 think
there must be some mistake"
II beg your pardon, Miss Harcourt said,
'but are you not from London?"
The stranger took step forward.
Beth" he said, "have / changed so
completely that you do not know me?''
"Jackp' she gasped. "You cannot be
Jack Rainsfordr'
Such different meeting from that which
she had planned in the years gone by! In
stead of passionate kisses she quietly shook
hands with her old lover, and sat down on
the chair opposite to him.
A chilled disappointed look came over
the worn, tired face of the man, and he
arose and walked over to the window as ne
said bitterly
"Yor have hardly changed at all, but
but sixteen years in India are not likely to
keep man fresh and young-especialiy
when they are not particularly happy
ones"
Something in the tones made Elizabeth
Harcourt's heart thrill as in the old days
but she remembered that wife in India.
The feverish cheeks grew a deeper crimson
but she said quietly
care you going to stay for any length of
time in England, Mr. Rainsford? Is your
wife with you9"
With startled look he turned and faced
her
"You know never married, Beth Har-
court" he said bitterly. 81 never loved
anybody but you, and--you have forgotten
me.''
With low cry she sprang toward him,
and the next moment was sobbing in his
arms.
"Jack, my darling" she said, ~ have
loved you always, and have not forgotten
you for one moment all these weary
years"
IF had only known it beforer' he an
swered sadly "Some one told me you
married the year after left, and thought
it was true until one day, on board vessel,
| met lad that came from here. asked
him about the old place, and he told me
Miss Elizabeth Harcourt had nursed him
through fever when every one else was
afraid to come near him."
Rainsford stopped and slipped an odd
hoop of shining stones on Miss Harcourt's
| finger.
''Do you know" he said, "a wild hope
filed me, and bought this ring that day,
and said to myself 1T is for Beth, if she
will wear it. II not l viii drop it In the
middle of the ocean, and meyer look at
England again."
Elizabeth looked down at the sparkling
diamonds, and said with long-drawn
sigh,-
''Oh, Jack, and it was only this morning
that was in despairF
Suppose you let me see that letter from
London?" he said. 81 wanted to make
some English Investments"
That night Miss Harcourt knelt by the
little white bed with happy sob, like a
tired child that had found rest at last.